Feline Vaccinations: Reduce Your Cat’s Risk for Illness

Vaccines are important to the health of your cat. Cats, like humans, are at risk for contracting contagious illnesses. Since many of these illnesses do not cause symptoms until several days after exposure, it is possible for your cat to interact with another seemingly healthy feline and become sick. A weekend at a cattery or even a trip to the groomer could lead to illness without proper protection. At Chicago Cat Clinic, our veterinary care team also understands that your cat’s lifestyle plays a major role in determining which vaccines are necessary. We believe that not every cat needs to receive every vaccination, and we follow the recommendations of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). For example, indoor cats usually only need to receive the core vaccination series, including rabies and distemper vaccines. Outdoor cats, however, may need additional vaccinations such as the feline leukemia vaccine.

Core vaccines are vaccinations deemed “vital” to your cat’s health as determined by the AAFP and are recommended for all cats – both indoor and outdoor.

The core vaccines include the rabies vaccine which is required for all cats in the counties of Chicagoland, and the “distemper” vaccine, also known as FVRCP or PCR, which is a combination vaccine including panleukopenia (feline distemper), feline calicivirus and feline herpes virus type 1 (rhinotracheitis).

Most cats typically receive their first round of vaccinations when they are kittens. The feline kitten shot series is important to protecting young cats against disease until their immune systems have fully matured. This shot series typically begins once kittens are weaned and will continue every three to four weeks until kittens reach approximately 16 weeks of age. Cats typically receive booster shots one year following their last kitten vaccination. Our veterinarian will make recommendations for your cat’s vaccination schedule based on your cat’s lifestyle and wellness needs.

Vaccinations prepare your cat’s immune system to fight the invasion of disease-causing organisms. These vaccines work by mildly stimulating your cat’s immune system. While this mild response will not make your cat ill, some vaccinations can cause an allergic reaction. However, the risk for an allergic reaction is extremely low. In fact, there is a far greater risk that your unvaccinated cat will become ill from a preventable disease.

Our cat veterinarians understand that the risk of illness or an allergic reaction is always a concern for pet owners. As the second oldest, exclusive cat practice in the United States and the first feline-only practice in Chicago, we take the health and well-being of your cat very seriously. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have about cat vaccinations and discuss your cat’s wellness in greater detail. Call us at 773-631-5300 to schedule an appointment.

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